*** WIGAN v SPURS *** Official Match Thread

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Is the season not over yet? Well according to our players performances it is. Anyway before I start ranting about it and blow a blood vessel I think I will just get on with the thread.


The Official Site Team News:

Pascal Chimbonda is a doubt for Saturday's return to his former club Wigan.

The full-back suffered a calf injury against Middlesbrough last weekend and has not trained this week.

Paul Robinson is unlikely to feature at the JJB as he continues to recover from the sprained ankle that has kept him out for the last two matches.

Better news sees midfielder Jamie O'Hara back in training this week following a bruised foot.

Gareth Bale, Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Ledley King remain out.

Skysports.com Preview:

Wigan could secure their Premier League status with a win over midtable Tottenham at the JJB Stadium on Saturday.

If Fulham fail to win at home to Liverpool and Bolton lose at the Riverside Stadium, Steve Bruce's men can pop the champagne and prepare for another season in the top tier of English football with home joy over Juande Ramos' men.

However, the Latics have never beaten Spurs and after the 4-0 hammering Bruce's side received at White Hart Lane earlier in the season, the Wigan players face a stern test on home soil.

Spurs' Carling Cup success has lit up an otherwise bleak season for Ramos' men, and with only two away league wins all campaign, the Spanish boss will be hoping for an improved showing away from the capital on Saturday.

Latics line up

On-loan defender Erik Hagen is unavailable through illness and Swedish left-back Erik Edman faces a long-term recovery from a knee injury.

Aside from the Scandinavian duo, Latics boss Bruce has a full squad to choose from.

Welsh wizard Jason Koumas will be pushing for a start after he came off the bench to set up Emile Heskey's invaluable injury-time equaliser at Stamford Bridge on Monday night.

Marlon King and Antoine Sibierski are also vying for a starting berth but Bruce may opt to stick with the Heskey and Marcus Bent partnership which has started the last three fixtures.

Spurs news

Tottenham full-back Pascal Chimbonda has a calf strain and is a doubt to face his former club Wigan.

Goalkeeper Paul Robinson (ankle) is also unlikely to feature, while Gareth Bale (foot), Benoit Assou-Ekotto (knee) and Ledley King (knee) will miss the rest of the campaign.

England U21 midfielder Jamie O'Hara is back in full training after a bruised foot but is likely to have to settle for a place on the bench.

Interesting Stats:

Us

Drawn the last two (both 1-1), and won one of six; 2-0, home to Portsmouth on 22 March.

An unsurpassed total of 120 goals have been produced in their games (63 for, 57 against); at 3.53, it is the highest goals per game rate in this league.

Scored more goals from open play than any other club (46), hit the woodwork more often (17 times) and been awarded seven penalties (four converted); no club has been awarded more.

No club has conceded more goals in stoppage time (seven).

Taken the lead in 21 matches, and gone on to win only 10 of them. Also, lost the advantage an unequalled 13 times this season, and dropped an unmatched 31 points from games in which they were in front (drawn eight, lost five).

Won one of eight away; the victory being 0-3 over Derby at Pride Park on 9 February. Picked up points from only three of their seven trips in 2008.

Them

Scored 31 goals; only Derby (16) have netted fewer.

Kept clean sheets in five of the last eight.

Picked up four draws from matches in which they were behind this season, but not managed to overturn a one-goal deficit to win a match in 92 games, since beating Manchester City 4-3 in December 2005.

Lost 15 of 19 matches this season, in which the opposition opened the scoring.

The current total of 35 points after 34 matches is on a par with last season, when they averaged a point a game (38 from 38) and ended in 17th place.

Picked up 13 of the last 15 points available at home, since the 1-2 loss to Everton on 20 January; the last time a home goal was conceded (Jolean Lescott after 52 minutes).

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3
Right, that's enough fuel for this fixture, kick off is at 15:00 GMT - check [thread=30134]Geez's Media Coverage Thread[/thread] for watching and listening options.

COME ON YOU SPURS!

[SIZE=-4]Lots of information courtesy of the BBC and SkySports[/SIZE]


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[paul_1979yid]

COYS

My bro is going up to Wigan today to watch the game! Fingers crossed we will win and pegg back W Ham !

 

[degoose]

really hope we win this, we arent far from the hammers and ending up 10th would be pretty nice, We should ahve been there by now as hammers having been stumbling for a while.

 

[nidge]

This has got draw written all over it for me. :-|

 

[Netty]

This has got draw written all over it for me. :-|

I hope not, I'm going! I can see a goal fest!! :grin: But, you're probably right, a goalless draw it will be.

 

[milkman]

COYS!

 

[PT]

This match has an oppo back four made for Bent to power through. Hope he plays. Sub Berba to give him a "rest".

 

[Kendall]

I'd play:

Cerny

Hutton Kaboul Woodgate Gilberto

Lennon Jenas Huddlestone Malbranque

Bent Berbatov​

Subs: Keane, Chimbonda, Forecast, Zokora, Rose

 

[eddiebailey]

I would like to see:

Cerny; Hutton, Woodgate, Kaboul, Gilberto; Lennon, Tainio, O'Hara, Malbranque; Keane, Bent. Subs: Forecast, Archibald-Henville, Huddlestone, Jenas, Berbatov.

I expect to see:

Cerny; Hutton, Woodgate, Dawson, O'Hara; Lennon, Jenas, Zokora, Malbranque; Keane, Berbatov. Subs: Forecast, Tainio, Huddlestone, Gilberto, Bent.

 

[al_pacino]

I agree with eddiebaily, Archibald-Henville has been getting good reviews for the reserves so these last games wil be a good time to have a look, plus any other young players the club think might make an impact next season.

 

[DJS]

I'd like to see:

Cerny

Hutton Dawson Woodgate Gunter

Lennon Jenas Zokora Gilberto

Berbatov Keane

Subs: Forecast, Huddlestone, Malbranque, Taarabt, Bent


Would be nice to see a couple of left footers down the left hand side to give us some balance and width (think Gunter is both-footed).

 

[degoose]

I'd like to see:

Cerny

Hutton Dawson Woodgate Gunter

Lennon Jenas Zokora Gilberto

Berbatov Keane

Subs: Forecast, Huddlestone, Malbranque, Taarabt, Bent


Would be nice to see a couple of left footers down the left hand side to give us some balance and width (think Gunter is both-footed).

yep gunter can pass and cross with his left foot pretty well, he played well in that position when he was given the games dunno why he hasnt recently. Gilberto would also be nice to see on the left wing im sure he can do a good job there

 

[steveitr]

i'd like to see a win and 3 points whoever plays!

Enjoy the game kendall

 

[nicdic]

If Keane starts ahead of Bent again today I will scream.

Cerny
Hutton Kaboul Woodgate O'Hara
Lennon Jenas Zokora Malbranque
Berbatov Bent

 

[DJS]

yep gunter can pass and cross with his left foot pretty well, he played well in that position when he was given the games dunno why he hasnt recently. Gilberto would also be nice to see on the left wing im sure he can do a good job there

Yeah thought Gilberto may feel a bit more comfortable with someone defending behind him - just tried looking Gunter up on Wiki and they only have him as a right-sided defender but they aren't always exactly the most reliable...

I did have in mind he was more of a leftie when he signed who could also cover the right side but s'long as he can use his left foot that's all the matters really! :up:

If Keane starts ahead of Bent again today I will scream.

Cerny
Hutton Kaboul Woodgate O'Hara
Lennon Jenas Zokora Malbranque
Berbatov Bent

I look forward to hearing you scream mwa ha hah! :twisted:

 

[talkshowhost86]

I'd like to see...

Cerny
Hutton Dawson Woodgate Gunter (is he fit?)
Lennon Tainio Malbranque Gilberto
Bent Berbatov

Thought Daws did well last week and deserves to play again. JJ, Zokora and Hudd should just be removed from the squad as they all seem to have given up on the season and I'd like to see Steed in the middle and Gilberto on the left (their actual positions). Chimbonda shouldn't play left back even if fit and I don't think O'Hara suits left back so why not give Gunter a try?

Sadly I suspect we'll see...

Cerny
Hutton Daws Woodgate O'Hara
Lennon Jenas Zokora Malbranque
Keane Berbatov

If that team plays I'll be a bit pissed off...what's the point?

 

[MattWilliams]

My old man met the squad last night. Well jealous. Haven't heard all the details yet but he chatted with Lennon and Dawson at least. Lucky bugger.

As for the match, hopefully see Bent get a start. Other than that, I'm really not to bothered. The squads apathy has transferred across to me.

 

[talkshowhost86]

Other than that, I'm really not to bothered. The squads apathy has transferred across to me.

That's exactly why some other players should get a go. The players who have shown the most apathy should not play and give some others a chance to at least get a game.

 

[nidge]

I'd like to see...

Cerny
Hutton Dawson Woodgate Gunter (is he fit?)
Lennon Tainio Malbranque Gilberto
Bent Berbatov

Thought Daws did well last week and deserves to play again. JJ, Zokora and Hudd should just be removed from the squad as they all seem to have given up on the season and I'd like to see Steed in the middle and Gilberto on the left (their actual positions). Chimbonda shouldn't play left back even if fit and I don't think O'Hara suits left back so why not give Gunter a try?

Sadly I suspect we'll see...

Cerny
Hutton Daws Woodgate O'Hara
Lennon Jenas Zokora Malbranque
Keane Berbatov

If that team plays I'll be a bit pissed off...what's the point?

Why be pissed off? It's our best side at moment and for some reason Ramos seem intent on selecting that side. I have yet to hear a good reason why he should change it.

Personally I would like to see Bent start alongside Keane as those two look likely to be part of our strikeforce next season and if people really wanted Ramos to try things that would be relavent for next season that would one change worth trying. Of the changes you suggest all pretty meaningless as they won't affect anything for next season as I doubt Gunter will be deemed as ready for the first team, Tainio may not even be at the club and Malbranque will be a backup next year I would think and tell me again what was the point in buying Gilberto?

You as what the point of playing the same team. Well what the point in changing the team when the players that are being brought possibly hold no place in the team next season?

 

[talkshowhost86]

Why be pissed off? It's our best side at moment and for some reason Ramos seem intent on selecting that side. I have yet to hear a good reason why he should change it.

Personally I would like to see Bent start alongside Keane as those two look likely to be part of our strikeforce next season and if people really wanted Ramos to try things that would be relavent for next season that would one change worth trying. The of the changes you suggest a pretty meaningless as they won't affect anything for next season as I doubt Gunter will be deemed as ready for the first team, Tainio may not even be at the club and Malbranque will be a backup next year I would think and tell me again what was the point in buying Gilberto?

I'd be pissed off because it's fairly obvious that quite a few of those players don't want to be playing at the moment. I don't think we need to worry about next season because I honestly think we'll have 7 or 8 new players to deal with anyway so nothing that happens now will effect that. It's just about the team actually trying for the rest of the season and quite frankly that hasn't been the case in the last few games.

The chief culprits are the midfield. JJ and Zokora have been awful and Hudd has been worse. Lennon has looked a little better but still not great and Steed, although trying harder than most, has not been in good form.

So the three central midfielders should just sod off for the rest of the season as far as I'm concerned. If they aren't going to try then they shouldn't be playing...simple as that. Steed and Tainio would at least give us some effort in the middle of the pitch and that's what we need at the moment. Lennon sadly can't be replaced as we don't have anyone else and Gilberto looks more like a left mid than a left back to me.